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Saturday, January 26, 2013

TG2507 - Cold weather birds and unidentified lichens

26th January 2013

The cold conditions did me a favour today, with ice covering much of the Great Broad. An open area of water near the visitors centre held the Slavonian Grebe and a Goldeneye. A Water Rail ran across the ice and a Great-spotted Woodpecker flew out of a nearby tree. Speaking of trees I ticked Alder, Oak, Silver Birch, Yew and Scot's Pine on my way round. It wasn't all good news - I found out that once again no moth trapping events are scheduled here this year, taking away a good source of species.

I also took a picture of three lichens, which I will attempt to ID (feel free to help if you have already seen these ones!)

Goldeneye

Slav Grebe, finally in range of my camera

A very numerous yellow lichen sp (Xanthoria parietina?), plus a grey-green one

I didn't notice the Goldeneye on my first (or last) scans, but handily it popped up close to me whilst I was photographing the Slav Grebe. I counted 132 Pochard, which is my highest Whitlingham count. From the WeBS spreadsheet you gave me it looks like the highest site count is 143 (no higher counts on BirdTrack, my records or those that others have sent me), so that is pretty good, especially crammed into one pool.

Thanks for the offer, although given previous experience I would probably rather be there at night as part of a group! I do know one of the summer volunteers there, so I will have a word next time I see him.